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Have a Purposeful

New Year!

Philippians 3:12-14

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What are we aiming for this year?

What are our priorities?

How will we reach them?

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Big Idea…

The New Year is a great time for us to align (or re-align) our priorities to God’s priorities for our lives.

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Big Picture of Philippians

Historical Background- Paul’s 2nd Missionary Journey (Acts 16)

Themes- 1. The Gospel of Jesus Christ2. Persevering in the Christian Life with

JOY!

Setting- Paul wrote Philippians while in Prison in Rome about 61 A.D.

Tone- Very personal

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Lessons from Philippians 3:12-14Lessons from Philippians 3:12-14

1.1. Knowing Christ is our #1 priorityKnowing Christ is our #1 priority

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Character Sketches of a Focused Life…

> David (Psalm 27:4)

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Psalm 27:4Psalm 27:4

““ONE THINGONE THING I have asked from the I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek:Lord, that I shall seek:

That I may dwell in the house of the That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,Lord all the days of my life,

To behold the beauty of the LordTo behold the beauty of the Lord

And to meditate in His temple.”And to meditate in His temple.”

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Character Sketches of a Focused Life…

> David (Psalm 27:4)> Mary (Luke 10:38-42)

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Luke 10:38-42Luke 10:38-42

““Now as they were traveling along, He Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord's feet, listening to His word. But the Lord's feet, listening to His word. But Martha was distracted with all her Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and preparations; and she came up to Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me." But the Lord answered tell her to help me." But the Lord answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; worried and bothered about so many things; BUT ONLY ONE THING IS NECESSARYBUT ONLY ONE THING IS NECESSARY, , for Mary has chosen the good part, which for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her."shall not be taken away from her."

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Character Sketches of a Focused Life…

> David (Psalm 27:4)> Mary (Luke 10:38-42)> Jesus (John 17:1-4)

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John 17:1-4 John 17:1-4 ““Jesus spoke these things; and lifting Jesus spoke these things; and lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said, up His eyes to heaven, He said, ‘Father, the hour has come; glorify ‘Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You, even as You gave Him authority You, even as You gave Him authority over all flesh, that to all whom You over all flesh, that to all whom You have given Him, He may give eternal have given Him, He may give eternal life. This is eternal life, that they may life. This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I I GLORIFIED YOU ON THE EARTH, GLORIFIED YOU ON THE EARTH, HAVING ACCOMPLISHED THE HAVING ACCOMPLISHED THE WORK WHICH YOU HAVE GIVEN WORK WHICH YOU HAVE GIVEN ME TO DOME TO DO.’”.’”

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““If anything has kept me on track all these If anything has kept me on track all these years, it’s being skewered to this principle years, it’s being skewered to this principle of central focus. You might remember my of central focus. You might remember my inverted triangle; there are many things I inverted triangle; there are many things I cancan do, but I have to narrow it down to the do, but I have to narrow it down to the one thingone thing I I mustmust do. The secret of do. The secret of concentration is elimination. Our flesh concentration is elimination. Our flesh keeps right on trying to con us into keeps right on trying to con us into sayings “yes” when we should say “no.” It sayings “yes” when we should say “no.” It will always be a struggle. It has been for will always be a struggle. It has been for me. Just wanted you to know that down me. Just wanted you to know that down the road where I am, it’s an A-1 priority. the road where I am, it’s an A-1 priority. Keep your eye on the target.”Keep your eye on the target.”

Focused on Christ,Focused on Christ,

Howard G. HendricksHoward G. Hendricks

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Lessons from Philippians 3:12-14Lessons from Philippians 3:12-14

1.1. Knowing Christ is our #1 priorityKnowing Christ is our #1 priority

2.2. Seek progress, not perfectionSeek progress, not perfection

3.3. Put no confidence in our fleshPut no confidence in our flesh

4.4. Knowing Christ leads to maturityKnowing Christ leads to maturity

5.5. Knowing Christ requires: Knowing Christ requires: a) His Powera) His Power

b) His Sufferingb) His Suffering

6.6. Don’t give up!!Don’t give up!!

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What God taught me…What God taught me…

1.1. Pursue Intimacy with Christ (3:12-Pursue Intimacy with Christ (3:12-14)14)

2.2. I am a bondservant (1:1; 2:4-11)I am a bondservant (1:1; 2:4-11)

3.3. Be Humble (2:3)Be Humble (2:3)

4.4. Serve (2:22, 25-30)Serve (2:22, 25-30)

5.5. Express Joy (1:4, 18; 3:1; 4:4)Express Joy (1:4, 18; 3:1; 4:4)

6.6. Be Content (4:11)Be Content (4:11)

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What can knock us out of the What can knock us out of the race?race?

1.1. Wrong prioritiesWrong priorities

2.2. BusynessBusyness

3.3. Distractions & “Stuff”Distractions & “Stuff”

4.4. Temptations/Addictions/SinTemptations/Addictions/Sin

5.5. Doing the good but not the bestDoing the good but not the best

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Goals for this yearGoals for this year

1.1. Read through the Bible in a yearRead through the Bible in a year

2.2. Daily Devotional- Daily Devotional- My Utmost for His My Utmost for His HighestHighest. See: . See: www.gospelcom.netwww.gospelcom.net

3.3. Pick a verse for the yearPick a verse for the year

4.4. Get in a small group- sign up todayGet in a small group- sign up today

5.5. Serve according to your giftednessServe according to your giftedness

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Pressing On Toward MaturityPressing On Toward Maturity

“I'm not saying that I have this all “I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I'm off beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back.” and running, and I'm not turning back.”

Philippians 3:12-14 from “The Message”Philippians 3:12-14 from “The Message”